24 Days of Beauty: The Advent Calendar, Beauty Edition

Every year, December 1 marks an exciting day in my life: the start of my holiday advent calendar. It's the beginning of 24 days of absolute self-control. Skip ahead? Eat two of those little chocolates instead of one? Me? Never! I never suspected there's an even better way to count down the days to Christmas—until I discovered advent calendars with little beauty surprises each day leading up to the main event. You've got to move fast to get it, though. The Boots Beauty Advent Calendar, with samples from excellent brands such as Soap & Glory, Nails Inc, and Juicy Couture, has already sold out. Here are three others you can still get your hands on. Warning: If you think eating just one chocolate a day takes self-discipline, you’re in for a whole new challenge. Let the countdown begin

Benefit Countdown to Love, $68
The large purple box includes travel-size samples of 24 of the brand's top-selling products, including POREfessional makeup primer, High Beam highlighter, Hoola bronzer, and BADgal lash mascara, to name a few. There are also samples from the brand's skin-care line and a bracelet, necklace, and barrette. All yours before Santa even arrives!

Ciaté Mini Mani Month, $58
True, the packaging recalls a Christmas sweater a grandparent might have worn, but this box is anything but outdated. Behind each numbered door flap awaits a mini nail polish in one of the brand's classic vibrant hues or creamy pastels, as well as glitter and sequin polishes and even their signature caviar pearls. No better way to double your own nail-polish collection or send your nail-obsessed friend into pre-holiday nirvana.

YOU Beauty Discovery Advent Calendar, $79.49
Allow me to name drop: Caudalie, Dermalogica, Perricone MD, Sisley, Stila. Listening yet? This new London-based members-only site offers a pretty, ribbon-tied white calendar that houses an impressive collection of luxury and niche beauty products to cover you from head to toe. It includes Alterna's Smooth Kendi Dry Oil Mist to keep hair vibrant in winter; ESPA's Pro Serum and Refining Skin Polish duo to turn dry skin baby-soft; and all the essentials for a seductive smoky eye: a gunmetal shadow (Inika), gray liner (Green People), and jet black mascara (Modelco). And not to worry: Even nonmembers and those not in London can get their hands on this for a small additional postage and packaging cost (about $8). Well worth it for products worth over $380.